Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 83, The Whiteley Galleries

Chalice and Paten Cover

1633-1634 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The chalice and patens were used during Holy Communion to serve the consecrated wine and bread. They were presented to St Michael’s in 1633 by William Laud, shortly before he became Archbishop of Canterbury. The bowl bears his coat of arms as Bishop of London and a Latin inscription under the foot of the chalice reads, ‘Gift of William Laud Bishop of London’.

Archbishop Laud regarded the Anglican church as a purified form of traditional Catholicism. He set out to restore the ceremonial that had been abolished with the Reformation of the previous century, including the high altar and the use of candles and incense. Parliament saw this as an attempt to overthrow the Protestant religion and in 1645 Laud was beheaded.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Communion Cup
  • Cover (Closure)
Materials and techniques
Silver, raised and engraved
Brief description
A silver communion chalice and paten cover presented to St. Michael's, Manningtree, Essex by William Laud as Bishop of London in 1633
Physical description
A flared bowl on a trumpet shaped stem with an inscription under the rim of the foot of the communion chalice and a coat of arms on the side of the bowl. The paten foot also bears the coat of arms
Dimensions
  • Height: 19cm
  • Diameter: 4.5cm
  • Paten height: 1 1/4in
Marks and inscriptions
Maker's Mark An escallop, within a shell shaped stamp; inscribed under the rim 'Ex dono dni Gulielmi Laude London Episcopi 1633' and a Coat of Arms. (The Coat of Arms 'Gu, two swords in saltire,arg, pommels or' (for the See of London) impaling 'Sa, on a chevron or, between three estoiled of the second, as many crosses pattee fitchee, gules' (for Laud).)
Translation
The gift of William Laud, Bishop of London, 1633
Gallery label
Communion Chalice and Two Patens The chalice and patens were used during Holy Communion to serve the consecrated wine and bread. They were presented to St Michael’s in 1633 by William Laud, shortly before he became Archbishop of Canterbury. The bowl bears his coat of arms as Bishop of London and a Latin inscription under the foot of the chalice reads, ‘Gift of William Laud Bishop of London’. Archbishop Laud regarded the Anglican church as a purified form of traditional Catholicism. He set out to restore the ceremonial that had been abolished with the Reformation of the previous century, including the high altar and the use of candles and incense. Parliament saw this as an attempt to overthrow the Protestant religion and in 1645 Laud was beheaded. London, England, 1633–4; maker’s mark a scallop Silver Lent by the Vicar and Churchwardens of St Michael’s, Manningtree, Essex(22/11/2005)
Credit line
Lent by the Vicar and Churchwardens of St. Michael's Manningtree, Essex
Object history
William Laud presented this communion chalice with two patens to St. Michael's Manningtree, Essex in 1633 shortly before he became Archbishop of Canterbury. The bowl of this chalicebears Laud's coat of arms as Bishop of London and a Latin inscription under the foot of the chalice reads "Gift of William Laud, Bishop of London".

Historical significance: In 1633 William Laud became Archbishop of Canterbury. Like his contemporary Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, he regarded the Anglican church as a purified form of traditional Catholicism. Together they set out to restored the ceremonial that had been abolished with the Reformation of the previous century, including the high altar and the use of candles and incense.
Historical context
The Anglican Church
In 1633 William Laud became Archbishop of Canterbury. Like his contemporary Bishop Lancelot Andrewes, he regarded the Anglican church as a purified form of traditional Catholicism. Together they set out to restore the ceremonial that had been abolished with the Reformation of the previous century, including the high altar and the use of candles and incense.

Laud’s intentions, however, were seen by Parliament as an attempt to overthrow the Protestant religion and in 1645 he was beheaded. It was not until the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 that churches could again use a Gothic chalice and celebrate the Eucharist with an elaborately chased and decorated communion set.
Summary
The chalice and patens were used during Holy Communion to serve the consecrated wine and bread. They were presented to St Michael’s in 1633 by William Laud, shortly before he became Archbishop of Canterbury. The bowl bears his coat of arms as Bishop of London and a Latin inscription under the foot of the chalice reads, ‘Gift of William Laud Bishop of London’.

Archbishop Laud regarded the Anglican church as a purified form of traditional Catholicism. He set out to restore the ceremonial that had been abolished with the Reformation of the previous century, including the high altar and the use of candles and incense. Parliament saw this as an attempt to overthrow the Protestant religion and in 1645 Laud was beheaded.
Bibliographic reference
Rev. W.J.Pressey, M.A., F.S.A., The Church Plate of the County of Essex, 1926,p.236
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:MANNINGTREE.1

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 17, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSON